‘Design a Roller Coaster’
A Mantle of the Expert project for KS2 and KS3
File One
Midland Actors Theatre
25 Merrishaw Road, Northfield, Birmingham B31 3SL
Tel.: 0121 608 7144
www.midlandactorstheatre.co.uk
news@midlandactorstheatre.co.uk
Frame for students: A club such as ‘The Roller Coaster Club of Great
Britain’; or an Engineering Company
Client: Theme Park
The Commission:
To design a new ride for an existing theme park.
About this project
This plan uses the ‘Mantle of the Expert’ system of teaching, where
students are asked to agree to think of themselves as if they are people
working together in a company or enterprise of some kind. In MoE, there is
always a ‘client’ who commissions some work from the ‘company’. Students
understand that both the enterprise and the client are fictional; and they
accept this. The work they undertake for the enterprise is designed to meet
the needs of the curriculum.
I have been asked to run a Mantle project on roller coasters several times
– for both KS2, and KS3 (Science and Maths). (Subsequently, and to my own
surprise, I have turned into a bit of a coaster nerd!) The first time I did
a coaster project, I realised the educational potential in the subject
matter – in the science of forces and gravity, in the mathematics of
design; but also, in spin-off work, e.g. in creating the ‘theming’ for
ride, in planning a marketing campaign, etc. And of course, children are
instantly engaged by the very idea of designing a coaster ride.
At Turves Green Boys’ Technology College, I worked with the Maths teacher,
Ross Currie and a class of Year 8 pupils, on a project to design roller
coasters. At the end of the project, Ross wrote a letter to the Head
Teacher at the school, claiming that the work had had a ‘profound’ and
‘staggering’ impact on exam results. Ross believed that this was because
the project had encouraged students to see problems as a challenge they can
solve – rather than thinking, ‘I don’t know how to do this...’
What follows is an amalgam of projects I have undertaken at KS2 and KS3.
Teachers should adjust the plan to meet their own teaching needs, and the
time available. I have indicated where I think the work is more suited to
KS3.
Students could work on this project as individuals, or in teams – again,
according to your aims as a teacher. It would be good if they had special
‘design books’ for this project, rather than their ordinary exercise books.
Obviously, the way that we are asking students to design a roller coaster –
using pen and paper – is not the way coasters would be designed nowadays
(ie using computer software programmes). But the problem with those
programmes is that they do a lot of the work for you – including the maths
calculations. Possibly, students could do a design on paper, and then
produce a computer simulation. I recommend the ‘nolimits’ simulation
software for this.
Plan
One issue for me in Mantle of the Expert projects is that you cannot give
pupils a ‘frame’ which assumes knowledge they don’t have. So you can’t ask
them to be ‘roller coaster designers’ straight away – they don’t know
enough about the challenges involved! We need a frame which could logically
serve as a ‘stepping stone’ to becoming coaster designers.
So we might be working as members of a ‘coaster club’, such as the Roller
Coaster Club of Great Britain or the European Coaster Club. They review
rides for a website or for the company magazine (eg ‘First Drop’, magazine
of the European Coaster Club). Then, a local theme park puts out an open
invitation for proposals for a new coaster ride. We know about coasters,
and what makes a good coaster, so we could agree to give this a go – but as
we have never actually designed a coaster before, we are aware there are
things we’ll need to find out about, as we go along!
Pupils could also be in the frame of an engineering company, who design and
produce different projects. Again, we have never designed coasters before;
we can apply our existing knowledge to this task, but we also know there
are things we will need to find out about coasters, and how they work...
For me, a Mantle project breaks down into a series of stages:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Engage the interest of the class and ‘edge them in’ to taking on the
‘frame’
Build the frame – i.e. develop the ‘expertise’ of the class
Receive the ‘commission’ from the ‘client’
Undertake tasks to fulfil the commission
Publish the results in some way – in this case, submit our ‘ride’
proposals
Note: One of the ideas behind Mantle of the Expert is that the work you
do, as a ‘company,’ can encompass different aspects of the curriculum.
One of the problems with doing Mantle work in secondary schools is that,
of course, the secondary curriculum is divided into discrete subjects –
and if your subject is Maths, say, you probably don’t feel you can allow
a lot of time to work that is not maths-based. Because of this, when I
did the ‘roller coaster’ project at Turves Green, I omitted the first
two stages, and began the whole project with the ‘commission’ letter –
(Phase 3). This meant we ‘cut to the chase’ much quicker – but it did
mean there was little chance to establish a sense that we were working
together as a ‘company.’
1. Engage the interest of the class
I don’t want to go in straight away and say, ‘Can we be members of a
coaster club...?’ (or whatever the frame is). I want to engage their
interest first.
I also want to establish certain principles about the way we will work
together. Mantle of the Expert is an enquiry method – it is designed to
encourage pupils to look for answers themselves. So I use materials at the
start that invite them to speculate about things. I want to get away from
the usual ‘teacher talk’ in the classroom, where the teacher asks a
question almost as a test to see who knows the ‘right’ answer. Here, there
are no right or wrong answers.
(One teacher I worked with recently told me she thought it was all very
well to invite pupils to speculate about things, but you should then
correct them when they are wrong – ‘because that is what education is,
isn’t it? It’s about filling children up with facts...’ Clearly, the spirit
of Thomas Gradgrind lives on.)
So this is how I begin the ‘Roller Coaster’ project.
1.1: I spread a large map on the floor. It’s an outline of a theme park. It
shows the terrain – eg hilly areas; lake; paths; buildings; the entrance;
perhaps the tracks of roller coasters – but nothing is labelled. I invite
the class to say what it is a map of.
1.2: I confirm that it is a map of a theme park. I place labels on
different areas of the map; eg:
Family Circle
Minetown
Comet Hollow
Wild Water Wilderness
Animal Planet
We discuss the kinds of rides you might find in each section of the park.
We have a number of names for rides on cards. I invite the class to
speculate: which rides do you think would go in which areas of the park...?
The rides are:
X2
Celebration Swings
Giant Drop
Western Chute Out
Superman: The Escape
Vanish
Ladybug
Starflyer
Duelling Dragons
Spongebob’s Boatmobiles
We divide into teams. Each team has a pack of photos of these rides. (You
can find images on the internet.) There are also cards with brief
descriptions of each ride, and ride stats – for example:
‘X’
Riders on ‘X’ plummet 200 feet to the ground - head-first, face down - and race at 76 mph,
spinning head-over-heels and performing forward and backward acrobatics through the
massive 3,610-foot twisted steel maze.
Roller Coaster Stats
Height: 190 feet
Drop: 215 feet
Angle of descent: 88.5 degrees
Top speed: 76 mph
G-Force: 4.0 G's
Length: 3,610 feet
Height requirement: Must be at least 48 inches tall
(More info on stats for different rides can be found at www.rcdb.com)
We try to work out which description matches each photo.
We get back together and make final decisions on where each ride should go
in the park.
Then we discuss: What are the most attractive features/rides – what rides
would you want to go on? What would make you want to go on it?
We have a number of cards with different ride qualities on them – eg Speed
/ Height / G force / Ride elements eg corkscrews / Unusual experiences –
going upside down, into darkness, into water/ etc. Also a few blank cards
which we can fill in if we think of things that are missing. In teams, we
sort the cards out into an order of importance.
We look at the rides (above) in teams. We study the info sheets again, and
we agree a rating for them (one star to five star) based on:
THRILL FACTOR / FAMILY APPEAL / THEMING
In groups, they fill out a form for this, also including recommended age
category/warnings needed, etc
Alternatively, pupils could write a ‘ride rating’ for a ride they know.
These tasks are edging us towards the ‘frame’ of members of the European
Coaster Club, as well as establishing a shared understanding about roller
coasters
RIDE RATINGS
RIDE NAME
THRILL FACTOR
* = Tame / ***** = Extreme!
FAMILY APPEAL
* = Unsuitable
***** = Ideal for all ages
THEMING
* = Weak / ***** = Amazing
Minimum recommended age or
height
Other restrictions, eg not
suitable for people with
heart conditions etc.
2. Build the frame – i.e. develop the ‘expertise’ of the class
2.1: We agree on our ‘frame’: we will be members of the European Coaster
Club. (It might be useful to have badges or lanyards with the club logo on
it. This establishes the idea that when we wear the lanyard, we are no
longer members of Class 6E (or whatever); we are talking as if we are part
of a ‘company.’ Alternatively, pupils could make up their own name for a
club, and design/choose a logo.)
As members of the ECC, one of our jobs is to write reviews of rides for the
club magazine, First Drop.
(FOR MORE INFO ON THE EUROPEAN COASTER CLUB, AND COPIES OF THE CLUB
MAGAZINE FIRST DROP, GO TO: http://www.coasterclub.org/)
I introduce the first task in the ‘frame’ of club members. (This task is
designed to build our sense of our ‘job’ and ‘expertise.’ I’m also still
focusing on developing a shared understanding of roller coasters.) I ask
the class to agree that I will now talk to them as if they are members of
the European Coaster Club.
‘Good morning. I’ve called us together today because Justin – you may know,
he’s the editor of our magazine, First Drop – has asked us to do a job for
the magazine. It’s a year since Thirteen opened at Alton Towers, but
opinion still seems divided about it. Justin said, can we prepare a series
of short reviews – or perhaps video blogs, etc -to give a sampling of
opinions about the ride? He doesn’t mind if we have different ideas about
it – in fact, he hopes we will!’
To prepare to review the ride, we:
a. View a trailer from Alton Towers
This is on the Alton Towers website:
http://www.altontowers.com/thirteen/?gclid=CNzg5KnSwakCFUtC4QodxD0EEQ
Or: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B2z3yVQBeA&feature=related]
We also look at the info about the ride on the Alton Towers website
b. View an on-ride video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgHMgJPtg4E
We also have available a double page spread from First Drop (Issue No. 88),
with photos / comments on the ride – and certain bits underlined or
highlighted – which show us a range of views about the coaster.
We prepare a review – in pairs or individually. There is a pro-forma ‘sent
by Justin – but he says we don’t have to stick to it...’. We can write a
review – or make notes for a video blog to go on the ECC website.
If computers are available, pupils could do some research about Thirteen
online.
Finally, we share what some people have written, or prepared for filming.
2.2: We receive a letter from someone who says they want our help. They are
going on a trip to a theme park with some friends – and they know their
friends will want to go on some roller coaster rides; but they are
terrified of going on one. Can we offer any advice? We discuss some ideas,
and maybe draft a reply.
Here’s a letter you could use:
21 Main Street
Woodhouse
W1 9GH
Dear Coaster Club,
Hi. I’m writing to see if you can help out with a problem. Next month, it’s my best
friend’s 21st birthday and to celebrate he wants a whole bunch of us to go a theme park
and ride on all the big coasters. Trouble is I’m too scared to ride.
When I was 12 I went on a coaster and as we were going over a top bit I lifted off the
seat and for a second felt like I was going to fall out. I was terrified and haven’t been on
one since. For the last nine years I’ve kept it secret from everyone and made up excuses
if people asked me to go with them to ride the coasters. But I really don’t want to miss
any more.
Do you think it’s possible to get over this? Would it be best to go on a few easy rides
first and then try the bigger ones? Or should I try some ‘shock therapy’ and just go for
one of the big coasters straight away? What do you think?
Hope you can help.
Thanks
Todd Williams
Another teacher, or teaching assistant, could be asked to stand in as
‘Todd’ (or whatever you call him/her). We talk to them, and offer advice
and reassurance. We also sit them in front of a whiteboard, and show them a
point-of-view video of a roller coaster ride. (There are plenty on
youtube.) We stop and start the video, talking them through what is
happening at each stage of the ride. If they are feeling nervous, they can
also ask us to pause the video at any time, and can ask questions, etc.
This could lead into some discussion about why people go on roller coasters
at all. Why do some people LIKE being scared?
Once, at Hargate Primary School, I was working with a Y6 class, who took
on the task of ‘coaching’ someone who was scared of going on a coaster.
They kept telling her: ‘Don’t worry – if you are scared, you can hit the
“Emergency Stop” button at any time...’ I knew this was wrong, and I
made a mental note to go back to it later. A typical teacher-way of
dealing with it might have been to say, ‘They don’t have “Emergency
Stop” buttons on coaster rides – who can tell me why?’ (This is an
interrogatory question; it’s clear the teacher knows the answer and the
pupils have to guess what it is.) But I phrased it differently: ‘You
know, I don’t think they have “Emergency Stop” buttons on roller
coasters. Which is funny, really – you’d think they would...’ This began
an enormous debate among the pupils, which lasted about an hour and a
half. At the end of the project, when they wrote project evaluations,
they all talked about this session – it really stuck in their minds. And
I think they learnt much more through the process of wrestling with a
problem together, and trying to find the solution, than they would have
if I had simply quizzed them on the ‘right answer.’
You can think of other tasks for Phase Two, to help build the ‘frame’ of
coaster experts, before we receive the ‘commission.’
Phase 3: Introduce the Commission
3.1: I now introduce the ‘commission letter’ which will set the work we
need to do for the rest of the project.
It comes from a theme park, Manor Park (below). (You could change this to a
real theme park of your choice – but it is always important to stress that
the commission is fictional; you simply ask them to agree it is reasonable
that, in our company, we might get a letter like this.)
The commission letter can be presented as a handout or a powerpoint. You
can adjust the ‘design brief,’ depending on what you actually want the
class to do.
As noted earlier, when I worked at Turves Green Boys, this is the point
where I started the project – with the ‘commission’ letter. I simply asked
the class to agree that we work as an engineering company – and then
introduced the challenge we are facing: to design a roller coaster.
Note: An outline of Phase 4 of the project – ‘Undertake tasks to fulfil the
commission’ – begins in File Two
Manor Park
The Theme Park for Thrill-Seekers of All Ages
Request for Proposals
The owners of Manor Theme Park are seeking proposals for a new roller coaster
ride. It's no secret that, here at the Manor Park, we need to introduce new,
exciting and original rides on a regular basis, to maintain and increase
attendance. The future of our theme park depends on your ingenuity.
We are giving the new ride the working title, ‘SW7’ (‘Secret Weapon 7’). It must
thrill riders with unique design features that incorporate the best in safety and
engineering, while providing an unforgettable ride experience. The ride must be
designed to fit in the available area in the park. It must also be gravity-driven.
Design Brief
When you present your ideas for a new roller coaster ride for the park, we will
need the following information:
1. Name of ride
2. Ride elements
3. Plan and side-elevation views
4. Map showing how ride will fit into the available area in the park
5. Length of track
6. Speed and length of ride
7. Estimated number of passengers per hour
8. Budget (based on cost per metre of track)
Gina Biggs
Manor Park Resort